Saving can hurt: With Christmas on the way, it's time to get saving those pennies. Toymaker Tomy is offering to help with its bomb-shaped piggy bank. Looking like one of the ancient black bowling-ball-type bombs beloved of cartoons past, it comes complete with a white skull-and-crossbones motif and a bright red pedestal. Following the custom of these devices nagging their owners, the money box vibrates, shines a light, beeps and "explodes" to remind you to be frugal and feed it a steady diet of coins. Failure to stuff the bomb regularly will cause it to scatter its contents all over the place, forcing the would-be saver to contemplate the error of their ways. The penny-pincher goes on sale this week for just under ¥3,000.
USB hot-spots: Basking in the congenial warmth of your computer screen — could there be any better way of coping with the callous chills of winter? Well, affection from our technological friend can only go so far in combating the mercury. Thanko believes in more practical computer magic, such as its new USB-powered HotPad. Bearing a distinct resemblance to one of those muscle vibrating belts that TV commercials claim allow you to exercise while doing nothing, you simply plug it in to your USB port, wrap it around the extremities needing that warming touch, and off you go. The unit costs ¥3,480, with details at www.thanko.jp/hotpad.
Hotter still: Green House is also into the whole USB-powered heating gadgets game with a range of such products, including blankets, slippers and even devices for keeping your more traditional warmth-enhancer — a cup of coffee — up to speed, temperature wise. Unlike the basic dark colors that the HotPad favors, these tend to the warmer end of the color spectrum, with lots of pastels. Check out its offerings at www.green-house.co.jp.